Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Neat & Tidy challenge: Complete the cycle

Regardless of how organised you are, sometimes mess just takes over. You may be going through an upheavel or re-adjustment in your life. You may be really busy at the moment. Or maybe you've just hit a wall and given up for a while. You know what? We've all been there at one time or another.

There are a couple of things you can do right now to help. One is to spend 15 minutes each day decluttering. Your table, a bedside drawer, your handbag, a toy box - every little bit helps. Here's a simple and effective way to declutter.

The other thing you can do is "Complete the cycle". It's a great way to make sure you are not adding to the mess.

Here's what "Complete the cycle" means, in the words of organisational expert Peter Walsh:

"If you put a load of clothes in the wash, and halfway through you turn the machine off and leave it for a few days, you will come back to a mound of smelly laundry. You have to finish the cycle. When you have a bowl of cereal, does the box go back in the cupboard? When you bring in the mail, do you immediately open and sort it? At night, do your clothes go in the hamper or on the floor? We have a choice: to be mindful and complete the cycle, or to end up with a stinky load of washing in the metaphorical machine."

I'm giving you a challenge (and I'll be doing it too) - spend today completing the cycle on everything you do. Even if you get interrupted (and you will be if you have kiddies), remember where you were and then get back to it.

You are music to my ears and just what I needed so glad I found your lovely blog. I'm now following you so we can keep in touch so nice to have new friends. I need to declutter and will start putting some of these in place thanks for sharing them. Love the quote. If you find a spare minute hope you visit me follow back if you like. I hope you have a lovely day.

That is a Special quote! I certainly need more organisation in my household. Great blog! Have enjoyed reading some of your posts. I will follow on my way out to ensure I know the path to your place when next I visit. Hope you can find the time to do the same over at my place. I would love to have you. Cheers SpecialK XoXo

Love this... I am in a current state of incomplete cycles everywhere around my house & in my life generally... time to implement this piece by piece... glad I just found your blog! Found you via the Circle of Mums top 25 Aussie Mum Bloggers listing... I just popped back over & voted!

I started "completing the cycle" two days ago and have noticed a big difference. I used to think the mess was some kind of demon but have realised that there are so many processes in the home even making a cup of tea creates mess if you don't finish the cycle. You really have to be diligent but it's worth it. Great advice.